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A television presenter from Wokingham will soon be part of a two-woman team that will venture across the Sahara desert with little more than a car and a compas.

Alexandra Legouix and actress Hayley Marie-Axe will be taking part in the 2016 Rally Marrakech Saraha in May to raise funds for a very poor area of Morocco.

The duo will also be filming their sand-soaked journey across the world's largest desert for a series called Rise of the UK Wildcats, in which a select group take part in numerous challenges to raise money for charities.

Miss Legouix, who is a former pupil at The Holt School, said: "Two major things have compelled me to do this: one is my health, the other is an inspirational experience.

"I'm a journalist and two years ago I traveled to Marrakech for a project. While there, I spent a day with a roving medical caravan going to some of the poorest parts of Morocco.

"I witnessed a man fall to his knees in sobs as he actually saw his grandson for the first time as he received his first pair of glasses from these doctors.

"I watched as young children desperately, eagerly were given schooling hours and I watched lines of desperately ill, desperately sad people as they lined up and received healthcare and donated clothing."

Miss Legouix selected her teammate, Hayley Marie-Axe, for the first challenge after the actress proved to be the strongest contestant out of 24 during a rigorous boot camp.

Alexandra Legouix and Hayley Marie-Axe

She continued: "This is the first of six adventures - women v desert. This time, the rally funds will go towards the local area and then our Kickstarter funds will go towards Damon Hill's charity Halow, based in Guildford.

"I'm feeling so excited to have finally managed to get the first event underway. It has taken such a long time and I've been met by endless challenges but that's all part of it.

"One of my biggest hurdles has been a diagnosis of a fast degenerating disc disease which was discovered when I fell and broke my spine last year.

"I also have three prolapsed discs and a dislocating pelvis so really this is a stupid thing for me to be doing."

She added: "This won't be an easy task and I'm sure there will be stress, strife, angst and tears along the way but it will be worth it. Rally Marrakech Sahara here we come."

The footage captured during the seven-day rally will feature in a 20 minute documentary.